Paint applying devices



Sept. 22, 1959 s. R. SCHLEICHER 1 4 PAINT APPLYING DEVICES I Filed June16, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 620465 62w sic/7 t.

P 22, 1959 G. R. SCHLEICHER 2,904,313

I PAINT APPLYING DEVICES Filed June 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 INVENTCRI I 650400. R. Sauna/F4 BY n W Z.) WW

ATTORNEY United States Patent PAINT APPL ING DEVICES George R.Schleicher, Bronx, N.Y.

Application June 16,1955, Serial No. 515,246,.

9 Claims, (Cla 15-230) This, invention relates generally to. paint.applying devices, and more particularly is directed to improvements inrollers for applying paint, calcimineand other coating materials.

Although rollers for applying paint and the like are now widely used andit isrecognized that, with respect to the speed of application, thecoverage achieved, with a given quantity of paint and the uniformity ofthe. coating, amateurs or relatively unskilled, painters are able toachieve practically professional results with rollers, the useof'rollers. has, for the. most part, been limited to, the application ofpaint to large, fiat surfaces, and it has e n c a y t p y conven i n lbrushes for appl ing paint to other, less accessible areas, Heretofore,special rollers, have been developed, for use in corners, for example,where wall surfaces, or a wall surface and ceiling surface intersect,but such special rollers are of no, use in simultaneously applying paintand the like to all sides, or the complete outer periphery,off'elongated elements, such as, pipes, ducts, posts, columns and theylike.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device forapplying paint to the complete periphery of an element which iselongated'or has a longitudinally extending axis, for example, a pipe,duct, post, column and the like. i

Another object is to provide a paint applying device having a pluralityof rollers which may. be arranged to completely embrace an elongatedelement for simultaneously applying paint to all sides of the embracedelement during the movement of the device along the latter.

Another object is, to provide a paint applying device capable ofoperation, as aforesaid, to apply paint to all sides of an elongatedelement embraced by the. device and along which the. latter is moved,and wherein the rollers may be positionally adjusted relative to eachother to adapt the device for paint application at other inaccessiblelocations, such as, in corners and' along decorative mouldings and tlike, whereby a single device may be employed in place of severalspecialized devices of limited application,

Still another object is to provide a handle construct-ien for a paintapplying device of, the described character and which is adapted toreceive several diiferent types of roller supports embodying thisinvention, so that the roller arrangement is, best adapted for aparticular problem or situation. i

A further object is to provide an improved paint ap plying roller of'simple and inexpensive construction, and which is particularly adaptedfor use in paint applying devices embodying this invention where severalrollers are arranged in series but no-lines of division are to appear onthe painted, surface Where the successive rollers contact each other.

In an aspect of this invention, a device for applying paintto anelongated element along which the device ismoved comprisesseveralrollers, anda support for'the rollers having one portion, adapted toform at-least part ed a handle by which the device can be manipulated,and

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at least, one other portion-carrying the rollers and defining at leastthree axes of rotation for the rollers. The axes of rotation for therollers are arranged so. that, when such axes are projected. into aplane normal. to the direction of movement of the device, the axes areangularly displaced relative to each other and intersect, by twos, in. anumber of points equal to the number of axes so that the. rollers ontheaxesare adapted to embrace an elongated element, and apply paintsimultaneously to. all sides, or. the-complete, periphery, of theembracedelement..

Further, in the above aspect of the. invention, atcleast one of the axesabout which the rollers rotate isspaced, in the direction of movement ofthe device, from another of the roller axes which it intersects, when,projected as above, so that a gap is provided between the relatedrollersv through which theelement to be painted may pass during themanipulation of the device to and from the operative. position of the:device where the. rollers. 6011b pletely embrace the element to bepainted.

One form that the. invention may take is characterized by a, supporthaving a roller carrying portion defined. by an elongated member, forexample, of rigid Wire, which isbent, or otherwise manipulated, toformat least one full turn of a. helix. The. word helix is here employedin its broadest sense and refers to the curve formed on any cylinder,whether it has circular, rectangular or other polygonal crosspsections,byastraight line-that iswrapped around the, cylinder and disposed at anacute angle with respect to, the axis; of the cylinder, Thus,.the.roller' carrying portion of the support, may be curved so that therollers. that are evenly distributed therealong are adapted to embrace.and completely paint the. surface of a pipe, duct, post, columuend thelike having the configuration of a right circular cylinder, or theroller carrying portion of the. support may include successive straightparts so that the. rollers rotatably mountedon; suchstraight parts,areadapted tov engage the. related side surfaces-forming thecomplete,periphery of an elongatedelementto; be

painted, for example, an element of square, rectangular, triangular orother polygonal cross-sections.

In either case, the, roller carrying portion of. the supp.ort,.is,connected, at one, end, to a portion of thesupport which forms. at leastpart, of a handle, whilevv the. other end of the; roller carryingportion is spaced from the first mentioned, end,- in the directionofthe. axis. of a; helix, by a distance whichis, sufficiently large to.provide a gap between; the. related rollers. through which. the elementto be painted can pass.

Another form. that. the invention may take is characterized by asupport, having, a roller carrying portion which includesadjustablymounted, angled arms, spaced rom each other, in the,direction, of movement of the paint, applying device and capable ofbeing, selectively positioned'relative to. each otherso. that therollers; thereon will simultaneously Contact all, sides of an elongatedelement. to be. painted, or so that the rollers on; one; of the other ofthe angled a-rrns-rwill be: available for painting in corners, or other.similarly relatively inaccessible places.

Earthen. in; accordance: withthis; invention a roller for inclusion ina, paint: applying device comprises: a porous disc, for example, of,feltuor sponge. rubber, having a central aperture therethrouglr. forreceiving the roller car ryin-g; portion of' the: support, and ametaleyelet type grommet inserted through the aperture of the porous disc.-

In order that the-invention may be fully understood, severalillustrative embodimentsthereof are hereinafter described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, andwherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a paint applying device embodying thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 shown in itsoperative position in relation to an element to be painted, and withsuch element represented by broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing anotherembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing structure thatmay be included in paint applying devices embodying this invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken "away, ofanother form of handle structure that may be included in paint applyingdevices embodying this inven-- tion; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away and insection, of a structural arrangement for coupling a handle to a selectedone of a number of roller "supports embodying this invention so that anassembly can be erected that is best adapted to perform any particularpainting task.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to.

Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a paint applying deviceembodying this invention and there generally identified by the referencenumeral 10 may be adapted particularl for applying paint and the like tothe complete periphery of an elongated element of circular crosssection,for example, a pipe, duct, post, column and the like, the element to bepainted being shown in broken lines and identified by the referencenumeral 11. The 'device 10 includes a support 12 which may be formed 'ofa single piece of suitably rigid, heavy gauge wire or the like, and hasa roller carrying portion 120 bent, or 'otherwise manipulated, so thatit has the configuration of slightly more than one full turn of a helixlying upon the surface of a right circular cylinder. The support 10further has a straight mounting portion 12b, shown in broken lines onFig. 1, which extends from one end 'of the roller carrying portion 12aand is adapted to be connected to, or form part of, a handle. In theembodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the mounting portion 12b of the supportextends axially into a handle 13 of wood or other suitable material andis secured within the handle in a conventional manner.

The paint applying device 10 further includes a se- 'ries of rollers 14rotatably carried by the portion 12a of support 12. As seen in Fig. 6,each of the rollers '14 preferably includes a disc 15 of porousmaterial, for example, felt or foam rubber, adapted to absorb and retaina quantity of paint or other liquid coating material and to dispense thepaint at its periphery as the roller rolls along the surface to bepainted. The disc 15 has a central aperture therethrough which receivesa metal eyelet type grommet generally identified by the referencenumeral 16. The grommet 16 includes a tubular bushing 17 extendedthrough the central aperture of disc 15 and having a radial, outwardlydirected flange 18 at one end adapted to bear against a side surface ofthe disc, and a washer-like element 19 fitting over the other end of thebushing 17 so that the central portion of the porous disc 15 is confinedbetween the flange 18 and element 19. The grommet 16 is permanentlyassembled on the related disc 15 by swaging the free end of the bushing17 so that the element 19 is displaced toward the flange 18 thereby tocompress the central portion of the disc and ensure that the axialdimension of the roller 14 at its periphery will be substantiallygreater than the axial dimension at the hub or grommet. Such reductionof the thickness of the roller at its hub or grommet makes it possiblefor the successive rollers 14 to be urged axially into intimate contactwith each other at their peripheries without contact occurring betweentheir grommets, even when the successive rollers rotate about alignedaxes, as in Fig. 6, so that no gaps can occur between the portions ofthe peripheries in contact with the surface being painted and lines ormarks on the painted surface, at the divisions between, the rollers areavoided.

The grommets 16 of the several rollers 14 are rotatable on the portion12a of the support and provide firm and precise foundations for therespective porous discs 15. Since the roller carrying portion 12a of thesupport in device 10 is in the form of a turn of a helix developed by aright circular cylinder, it is apparent that the axes of rotation of thesuccessive rollers 14 are angularly displaced from each other andintersect, by twos, when viewed in the direction of movement of thedevice, that is, along the axis of the elongated element 11 to bepainted, so that the rollers rotate in radial planes which are angularlyspaced apart. Thus, when the rollers 14 are compacted along the rollercarrying portion 12a of the support, for example, between a compressionspring 20 hearing against the roller at one end of the series of rollersand a stop 21, which may be in the form of a nut threaded on the freeend of the support, the peripheries of the successive rollers contacteach other at the parts of their adjacent edges which face inwardlytoward the axis of the helix, that is, where the peripheries of therollers contact the surface of the element 11.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a sufiicient number of rollers 14 are providedon the support 12. so that the opposite ends of the series of rollerswill overlap when viewed in the direction of the axis of the helix or ofthe movement of the device 10 along the element 11. Thus, the rollers 14are adapted to apply paint to the complete periphery of the element 11embraced by the series of rollers on the helical roller carrying portion12a of the support as the device 10 is manually, or otherwise, movedalong the element to be painted.

In order to permit the device 119 to embrace an element to be paintedwhich is supported at its opposite ends, or otherwise arranged, so thatthe paint applying device cannot be slipped axially onto the element,the free end of the roller carrying portion 12a of the support 12 isspaced, in the direction of the axis of the helix, from the initialportion of the helical turn by a distance d (Fig. 2), which representsthe pitch of the helix and is sufliciently large to provide a gapbetween the rollers 14 at the opposite ends of the series of rollersthrough which the elongated element 11 can pass during the positioningof the device 10 on the latter preparatory to painting and during theremoval of the device 10 from the painted element.

Although the roller carrying portion 12a of the support in the device 10is in the form of a turn of a helix developed by a right circularcylinder and adapts the device for the painting of the completeperiphery of a similarly shaped element, that is, an element having anouter configuration in the form of a right circular cylinder, it isapparent that the shape of the roller carrying portion of the support 12can be varied in order to adapt the device for the painting of elongatedelements having different external configurations.

Figs. 3 and 4 show one of the many possible variations or modificationsof the above described device and represent a paint applying devicewhich is generally identified by the reference numeral 10a andparticularly adapted for use in connection with the painting of anelement 11a having square, or other rectangular, cross-sections. Thedevice 10a includes a support, generally identified by the n meral 22,which, as in the case of the support t2, may e ormed; of gid. heavysense 13%. an in: clu es; a.- roller carry ng portion, h r na e dm ihedn detail, an a portion Hues-te d ng. immune; e d of; t e when carryingportion and ad ntedto be mounted in, r form part of, a handle 23...

Th roller ca yin po ion o supp rt 22 i in he form of at; least oncomplete turn of; a helix; developed on acylinder of re ta gular, pcifically: squ r cros sections. and in ludes stra gh parts, 2.211,.220,-. 224 and 22a defining. x of: rotation f r relatedg-roup of} ro lrs which are indiv d lly he same as he. rollers 14 d scribed withreference.- to Fig; 6;. It: is: apnarentthat each ofv the straight partsof the roller carrying port on. of support 22- defines the axis.- otrotation tor several rollers; andthatthe; several axes, Whenprojeetcd.into a plane normal to the. direction of movement; of; the device aalongthe; element 111a, that is, when viewed as in Big, 3, are. sing lay paced: frotn each' other. an inter ccuby tyres, in a. number ofpoints. equal to; the number of straight parts or roller axes.

r ps. of rollers. 2.4.11, 4c..2.4d.- and. 2142,. ach made up of severalrollers, 14, so that the. length of each group is at least as; great asthe; width of. the. side surface of the. element; 31a. to be painted.by: that group, are. rotatably mounted on the. straight parts. 22b, 22c,22d and; 22a, of the support 22;. The several groups; of rollers areheld in spaced apart relationship along. the rollercarrying portionof'support 22*byrelatively tightly wound or rigid helicalspringsaud'the, supportbetween the. adjacent ends: of the successive groups of;rollers, and a helical spring 26 is provided. on. the support 22.between the handle 23 and; the adjacent endof roller: g-roup'24b. toyieldably urge the: spaced apart roller groups: along the support in thedirection toward the free end of the. latter wheltez-a,suitablQsICpZ?(Fig. 4:) provided; Thus, the springs 25 ensure that the. roller groups241:, 24c, 24d and; 24:: will; be properly positioned along the.straight parts ofthe support: 22. to extend across and apply paintto thefull; width ofthe related side. surfaces; of element 11a, while, the.spring 26, which may be relatively: loosely wound, serves to axiallycompact the rollers in each group so that no gaps; will appear betweenthe. peripheries; of the successive rollers in the group. to leave;corresponding marks or lines on the painted. surface.

In order. to permit the positioning of the device 1011 on the. element11a, and its. removalfrom the latter upon the, completion of thepaintingthereof, the pitch d: (Fig. 4) of the. helical turn representedby the straight parts 2%.,22'0, 22dand 222, that is, the distancefromthe free end ofpart 22a to. the end of part 22b connected. to part22a. measured in the direction of movement of the device 10a, is largeenough. to, provide a gap: between theroller groups. 24b and 242 throughwhich the element 11a can 13.3882.

Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings illustrate two. modifications. of handlestructures. that maybe; used. in connection with the. devices describedin connectionwith Figs. 1' and 2. and Figs. 3: and 4, although therollercarrying portions of the, supports shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are both ofthe kind included in the device lit and particularly adapted forapplying paintv to an element having circular cross-sections.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seenthat the handleand roller carryingsupport portion 12a are; formed of a single lengthof suitably bent wire.In order to: form a handle 13a, the portion 12b of the support islengthened and connected, at the. end remote from the. portion 12a, witha curved bend 120 which, in turn, extends into a portion 12d extendinggenerally parallel to the portion 12b and having a hook 122 1 atitsvfree end engageable in back of the. base end of .thev rollercarrying portion 12cc. Normally, the curved. bend 1 1 would urge theportion 12d to diverge. away from the. portionv 12b so that the. hook122-, which holds the. portions 12b. and 1211' in generally parallelrelation, is. always; under load and cannot. be inadver ently iseng edrom. the base of portion-12a. It is apparent. that, the portions 12 -band 12d may be simultaneously grasped by the user and define. a, handleby which. the paint applying. device can be'manipulated.

In Fig. 8, the handle '13, of wood or a suitable molded plastic materialhas. a bore extending longitudinally therethrough to receive the.extended portion 12b of; the. support. 12, and the free end of portion12b is.- threaded toreceive. a nut 28 which removably. Secures; the;Support 12 tov the handle 13..

Thu each of the. devices 10. nd 1.0a may have a handle wherein a.portion. of the support is. embedded molded or otherwise permanentlysecured in a wooden or molded plastic. ody. in Fig. 1., or handl s ofthe kind illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.

Referring now to. Fig:- 5. 0f. the drawing, wherein a. deviceconstructed in accordance. with still another. em,- bodi'ment of theinvention is illustrated and generally identified. by the referencenumeral 1%, it will be seen that, such device includes asupporting rod29' having arms 29a and 29b. extending radially from its ends in opposeddirections. The; arms 29a and 2% have diametric. bores 30 extendingtherethrough, with the axes of such bores converging upwardly, as viewedin Fig. 5. Angled; roller carrying members 31a and 3111 each include; anarm 32 and an arm 33, and the, arms 32 thereof are adapted to bereceived, at their free ends, in the bores 3.9; of: the; support arms29a and 2%, respectively. Set screws, 34. extend into the, arms 29a and29b and are adapted; t e gage th ms 32 n the elated bores. 11 foradjustabl-y securing the. members 31a and 3,111 with respect to thesupporting rod 29.

It is apparent that the members 31a and 31b may be; disposed; inparallel planes. and arranged so that their arms 32 and 33, which definethe axes of groups of rollers thereon, when viewed in a direction normalto the parallel planes containing the members 31a and 31b, willintersect at the corners of a rectangle, specifically a square. Groupsof rollers 35a and 35b are rotatably mounted on the arms 32 and 33,respectively, of the member 31a, while groups of rollers 35c and 35d arerotatably mounted on the arms. 32 and 33 of the member 31b. The rollersin each of the above identified groups preferably are. constructed inthe manner described in connection with the rollers 14 of Fig. 6, sothat the rollers of each group. can be axially compacted to elimie nateany gaps between the peripheries of adjacent rollers in the group.

In order to axially compact the rollers in each group and to properlyposition the latteralong the related meme ber 31a or 31b, a helicalspring 36 under compression is provided on each arm 32 between therelated group of rollers 35a or 350 and the related support arm 29a or29.1 and relatively tightly Wound springs 37 are. provided on the.members 31d and 3112 between the groups 35 and 35d, respectively, tospace apart the related groups in exactrelationship tov the cornersinvolved. A suitable stop 38 is provided on the free. end of each arm 33to limit the axial movement of the related roller group 35b, or 35dtoward the free end. Thus, the springs 3.6 urge the related rollergroups along the members 31a and 31b. toward the free ends of thelatter, and the stops. 3.8, and spacing springs 37 ensure that theaxially compacted groups ofrollers will be properly positioned on therelated arms of the members 31a and 31b.

When the members 31a and 3112 are adjustably arranged to define thesides of a square. or rectangle, as previously described, the rollergroups 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d will be adapted to simultaneously engageand apply paint to the four side surfaces of an elongated element (notshown) of square or rectangular cross=section. The arms 29a and 29b ofsupport rod 29- are sufliciently long so that: the planes containing themembers 31a and 31b arespaced apartby a distance providing a gap between7 the roller groups 35b and 35d, in the direction of normal movement ofthe device 1012 along an element to be painted, which gap is largeenough to permit the passage therethrough of the element during thedisplace ment of the device ltib to and from its operative positionembracing the element to be painted.

It is apparent that the assembly illustrated in Fig. makes it possibleto adjust the angular relationships between the axes of the rollers, andeven to add or subtract rollers to, or from, the several groups so thatthe assembly can be adapted for the painting of elements or" differentsizes and shapes. The device of Fig. 5 also can be used to provide incorner painting of walls. Further, it is apparent that one of themembers 31a and 31b can be removed from the assembly, or adjusted to aposition remote from the other of said members, so that the other membercan then be conveniently employed for the painting of outside corners ortrim and the like.

A handle structure used in connection with the above described assemblyof the device 1% is generally identified by the numeral 39 and includesa handle member 40 threaded at its upper end and received in aninternally threaded sleeve 41. The sleeve 41 has diametri- 'callyopposed openings adjacent its upper end through which a split tube orcoilet 42 on the support rod 29 is adapted to extend. The handle member40 has an axial, blind bore 43 (Fig. 9) at its upper end receiving aplug 44 so that, when the handle member 40 is turned relative to thesleeve 41 in the direction moving the plug 44 toward the collet 42, thelatter is diametrically clamped in the sleeve 41 and prevents axialmovement of the rod 29, while permitting the forceful turning of the rod29 in the collet for adjustment of the positions of the members 31a and31b relative to the handle member 49 to achieve the most convenientarrangement for painting in relatively inaccessible locations.

Further, with the handle construction 39, the support rod 29, members31a and 31b and the related groups of rollers may be replaced by aroller support of the kind included in the device I so that acombination may be formed with the handle construction 39 that isparticularly adapted, for example, for the painting of an element ofcircular cross-section. In order to combine a roller support 45 (Fig.9), which is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with thehandle construction 39, the sleeve 41 further has two diametricallyopposed openings 46 (Fig. 5) through which a straight portion 47 (Fig.9) of the roller support extends at right angles to the axis of theopenings receiving the collet 42 in the combination of Fig. 5, and thecollet 42 is replaced by a pin 48 (Fig. 9) having a peripheral groove 49to receive the portion 47 of the roller support. Preferably, the groove49 has a width smaller than the diameter of support portion 47 so that,when the latter is ripped between the plug 44 and the pin or adapter 48,the edges of the groove 4-9 will bite into the portion 47 to resistturning of the latter in the openings 46.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the handle construction 39 isadapted to be combined with various types of roller supports suited forparticular painting situations, whereby a single handle construction canbe used, instead of an individual handle for each different form ofpaint applying device, and a substantial saving results.

Although several illustrative embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail herein and shown in the accompanying drawings, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to these preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be efiectedtherein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention,except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l 1. In a paint applying device; the combination of a helicallyextending support which, at one end, is adapted 8 for mounting on ahandle, and a plurality of rollers ro tatably carried by said support atlocations along the latter so that said rollers completely overlap theperipheral surface of an element to be painted when the element isencircled by said support.

2. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of anelement having a longitudinally extending axis; the combinationincluding a rod support means for encircling the element to be paintedand extending helically along the axis of the element, one end of saidrod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle and the otherend of said rod support means being axially spaced from said one end,and a plurality of rollers rotatably carried by said rod support meansat locations along the latter so as to overlap the periphery of anelement encircled by the rod support means, the axial spacing betweenthe opposite ends of said'rod support means being sufiiciently large toprovide a gap between the related rollers through which the element tobe painted can pass.

3. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of anelement having a longitudinally extending axis; the combinationincluding a rod support means having the configuration of at least onefull turn of a helix developed by a cylinder with cross-sections similarto those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means canencircle the element, one end of said rod support means being adapted tobe carried by a handle, and a plurality of rollers carried by said rodsupport means at locations along the latter so that said rollers contactand apply paint to the complete periphery of an element encircled bysaid rod support means as the latter is moved along the element in thedirection of the axis of the latter.

4. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of anelement having a longitudinally extending axis; the combinationincluding a rod support means having the configuration of at least onefull turn of a helix developed by a cylinder with cross-sections similarto those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means canencircle the element, one end of said rod support means being adapted tobe carried by a handle, the other end of said rod support means beingfree, and a. plurality of rollers carried by said rod support means atlocations along the latter so that said rollers contact and apply paintto the complete periphery of an element encircled by said rod supportmeans as the latter is moved along the element with the axis of saidhelix concentric with the axis of the element being painted, the pitchof said helix being sufiiciently large so that a gap exists between therollers adjacent the opposite ends of the rod support means and throughwhich the element can pass when the device is disposed with the axis ofsaid helix angled with respect to the axis of the element.

5. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of anelongated element having circular crosssections; the combinationincluding a rod support means having the configuration of at least onefull turn of a helix developed by a right circular cylinder so that saidrod support means can encircle the element and be uniformly spaced fromthe surface of the latter, one end of said rod support means beingadapted to be carried by a handle, and a series of rollers carried bysaid rod support means along the latter and yieldably compacted togetherso that the peripheries of said rollers are in contact with each otherat the inside of the helical turn to apply paint uniformly to thecomplete periphery of an element encircled by said rod support means asthe latter is moved along the element with the axis of said helixconcentric with the axis of the element being painted.

6. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of anelongated element having polygonal crosssections; the combination of arod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn ofa helix de veloped by a cylinder with polygonal cross-sections similarto those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means canencircle the element and be uniformly spaced from the surfaces of thelatter, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried bya handle, and at least one roller carried by each of the straight partsof said rod support means for rolling contact with the related surfaceof the element across the entire width of that surface, whereby therollers apply paint to the complete periphery of the element as thedevice is moved along the latter with the axis of said helix concentricwith the axis of the element being painted.

7. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of anelongated element having polygonal crosssections; the combination of arod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn ofa helix developed by a cylinder with polygonal cross-sections similar tothose of the element to be painted so that said rod support means canencircle the element and be uniformly spaced from the surfaces of thelatter, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried bya handle, a group of axially aligned rollers carried by each of thestraight parts of said rod support means for rolling contact with arelated surface of the element across the entire width of that surface,spacing means between the groups of rollers on the successive straightparts of said rod support means so that said groups of rollers aremaintained in predetermined positional relationship to the surfaces ofan element encircled by said rod support means, and resilient meansaxially compacting the rollers of said groups so that the peripheries ofthe rollers in each group are in contact With each other and the groupsof rollers uniformly apply paint to all of the related surfaces of theencircled element as said rod support means is moved along the latterwith the axis of said helix concentric with the axis of the elementbeing painted.

8. In a paint applying device according to claim 1, and furthercomprising a handle construction including a sleeve having a pair ofopposed apertures therein, said one end of the helically extendingsupport passing through said apertures and transversely across saidsleeve, a handle member threaded at one end, into said sleeve, a plugmember carried by said handle member within said sleeve to move axiallywith said handle member in response to turning of the latter relative tosaid sleeve, and clamping means engaging said one end of said helicallyextending support and securing the latter within said sleeve in responseto axial movement of said plug toward said helically extending support.

9. In a device for painting the complete periphery of an element havinga longitudinally extending axis; the combination according to claim 8,wherein said clamping means includes a pin extending diametricallyacross said sleeve at right angles to said one end of said helicallyextending support and having a peripheral groove receiving the latter,said plug being on the opposite side of said one end of the helicallyextending support from said pin and bearing against said one end of thehelically extending support, thereby urging the latter into engagementwith said grooved pin.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS615,627 Meinecke Dec. 6, 1898 1,174,488 Geiger et al. Mar. 7, 19161,284,443 Plant Nov. 12, 1918 2,091,131 Cone Aug. 24, 1937 2,168,842Kesteven et al. Aug. 8, 1939 2,266,427 Levy-Hawes Dec. 16, 19412,291,524 Best et al July 28, 1942 2,355,667 Melton et a1 Aug. 15, 19442,455,098 Seelenfreund Nov. 30, 1948 2,788,539 Santina Apr. 16, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS 2,990 Great Britain of 1908 218,345 Great Britain July3, 1924 659,092 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1951 715,950 Great Britain Sept.22, 1954

